Elections Flashcards
Which amendment lowered the voting age to 18?
26th Amendment
Who was allowed to vote after the founding?
White men over 21
Some states had property requirements
What is the turnout in presidential elections?
Approx. 60%
What is the turnout in Congressional mid-term elections?
Approx. 45%
What is the turnout for local elections?
As low as 10-20%
How is turnout calculated?
Number of people who vote divided by the number of people allowed to vote
Denominator causes some issues
What is the purpose of voter registration?
Introduced in 1890
Purpose to discourage fraud and corruption
At the time it was also set up to discourage blacks and immigrants from voting
How does the registration process disadvantage certain people?
Registration office often only open on weekdays-people have to take time off work
Often far out the way so have to be able to drive
Disadvantages poorer people
Also voter ID laws used to discourage voter Fraud but ends up discouraging people from voting
What was the motor-votor bill?
Bill Clinton in 1993
Meant people could register when you get your drivers licence
Also automatically registered for next election at current registration
How many eligible unregistered voters in the US?
45 million
Mainly aged 18-29
When did the US adopt the Australian ballot method?
End of 19th century
All candidates written on 1 piece of paper, secret ballot so no intimidation
What were the McGovern Fraser reforms?
1968 democratic national convention
Made it so that all delegate selection procedures were required to be open; party leaders could no longer handpick the convention delegates in secret
Drawing electoral districts
Census taken every 10 years
States redraw district on basis of the census
Gerrymandering can occur though, drawing electoral boundaries to favour one party or groups
What’s an initiative?
Where a certain number of registered voters sign a petition which can force the government to choose either to enact a law or put it to a referendum
What’s a recall election
Where voters can remove an elected official from office through a referendum before their term has ended